Chapter 10: The Confession Hidden in the Letter
I stared at Nia’s name written across the top of Richard’s letter.
For several seconds, my brain refused to process it.
Nia.
Not a stranger.
Not someone from my father’s past.
Not someone who had disappeared years ago.
My fiancée.
The woman who held my hand when I buried my father.
The woman who told me she understood my pain.
The woman who looked me in the eyes and promised she would never betray me.
My hands began shaking.
“No.””
My mother looked at me.
“Marcus…”
“No.””
I held up the letter.
“This doesn’t make sense.””
Daniel’s expression was grim.
“It does.””
I turned toward him.
“You knew?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“You knew Nia had this?””
Daniel looked away.
“Not exactly.””
“Then explain.””
He took a slow breath.
“Your father’s final investigation was incomplete. He knew Richard was dangerous, but he didn’t know who Richard had been communicating with.””
I looked at the letter.
“But Nia knew.””
“Yes.””
The lake house suddenly felt smaller.
Every memory of Nia replayed in my mind.
Our first date.
The way she laughed.
The way she cried when I proposed.
Had any of it been real?
My mother stepped closer.
“Marcus, listen to me.””
I looked at her.
“She knew.””
My voice cracked.
“She knew who hurt Dad.””
My mother nodded slowly.
“And she still married me.””
The anger that followed was different from before.
Before, I was angry because she stole money.
Now I was angry because she stole time.
She stole years of my life while carrying the truth about the person who destroyed my family.
My phone rang.
Nia.
I stared at the screen.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, I answered.
“What?””
Silence.
Then her voice.
“Marcus, I know you found it.””
My jaw tightened.
“Did you know?””
A pause.
That pause was the answer.
“How long?””
“Since before we got engaged.””
I closed my eyes.
My mother looked away.
Daniel lowered his head.
“Why?””
My voice was barely a whisper.
“Why would you do this?””
Nia started crying.
“Because I was scared.””
“Everyone is scared.””
“I was afraid Richard would come after me.””
“Richard?””
“Yes.””
She took a shaky breath.
“My father worked with Richard. He knew what Richard had done. When he died, he left me the evidence.””
I froze.
“Your father had evidence?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you give it to me?””
“Because Richard threatened me.””
I laughed bitterly.
“So you protected yourself.””
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“I was trying to find a way to protect you.””
“You tried to steal my inheritance.””
Silence.
“I made a mistake.””
“No, Nia.””
I looked at the letter.
“You made choices.””
She cried harder.
“I didn’t know how powerful Richard was. I thought if I could control the trust, I could force him to stop.””
“That makes no sense.””
“I know.””
For the first time, she sounded like she hated herself.
“I was wrong.””
I looked at Daniel.
Then at my mother.
“Where are you?””
“Marcus…”
“Where?””
A long silence.
“The hotel.””
My heart sank.
“What hotel?””
“The one from the photograph.””
Of course.
The same photograph that exposed her.
The same place where she met Andre.
“Why are you there?””
“Because Richard came to see me.””
Everyone froze.
I stood straighter.
“When?””
“An hour ago.””
“Is he there now?””
“No.””
“Then why are you still there?””
Her voice dropped.
“Because he left something.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
“A recording.””
Daniel immediately looked at me.
“Put it on speaker.””
I did.
Nia continued.
“Richard recorded himself talking about everything.””
My heart raced.
“Why would he do that?””
“I don’t know.””
A pause.
“Maybe because he knew someone would betray him.””
The irony wasn’t lost on me.
“Send it.””
“I will.””
A few seconds later, my phone received a file.
Everyone gathered around.
I pressed play.
Static.
Then a voice.
Richard.
Older.
Angry.
“You think you can take what belongs to me?””
Another voice answered.
A woman.
My stomach dropped.
Because I knew that voice.
Nia.
“I just need more time.””
Richard laughed.
“You had years.””
“You promised nobody would get hurt.””
“Nobody was supposed to find out.””
My blood ran cold.
The recording continued.
Then Richard said something that changed everything.
“The only reason Marcus is still alive is because your little plan failed.””
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Because those words meant one thing.
This was never only about money.
Nia wasn’t just hiding a crime.
She was hiding an attempt on my life.
Then Richard said the final sentence.
The sentence that made Nia gasp through the phone.
“Once Marcus is gone, the trust belongs to Ethan.””
I looked at Daniel.
Then at my mother.
Because we all understood the same thing.
Ethan wasn’t the enemy.
May you like
Someone wanted us to believe he was.
And that someone was willing to kill me to get what they wanted.
